Multiple end-point analysis reveals cisplatin damage tolerance to be a chemoresistance mechanism in a NSCLC model: implications for predictive testing.

Systemic chemotherapy is extensively used in cancer therapy, however, for many treatments' response rates are limited. Furthermore, certain regimens are frequently associated with significant morbidity and occasional mortality. Consequently, when alternative options exist, it is desirable to reserve a particular chemotherapy for those patients whose tumours will respond.

Sting_RDB: a relational database of structural parameters for protein analysis with support for data warehousing and data mining.

An effective strategy for managing protein databases is to provide mechanisms to transform raw data into consistent, accurate and reliable information. Such mechanisms will greatly reduce operational inefficiencies and improve one's ability to better handle scientific objectives and interpret the research results. To achieve this challenging goal for the STING project, we introduce Sting_RDB, a relational database of structural parameters for protein analysis with support for data warehousing and data mining.

Evaluation of DAPK gene methylation and HPV and EBV infection in cervical cells from patients with normal cytology and colposcopy.

Objective: Evaluation of promoter methylation of the death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) gene and HPV and EBV infections in cervical cells from patients with normal cytology and colposcopy.

Study Design: Twenty women, who had been patients at the Institute of Gynecology of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) for routine examinations and who showed normal cytology and colposcopy, were selected for this work. Cervical brushings were used for DNA extraction, and the analysis of methylation patterns of the DAPK gene was done through chemical modification with sodium bisulfite.

Extended treatment with physiologic concentrations of dietary phytochemicals results in altered gene expression, reduced growth, and apoptosis of cancer cells.

Dietary phytochemicals exhibit chemopreventive potential in vivo through persistent low-dose exposures, whereas mechanistic in vitro studies with these agents generally use a high-dose single treatment. Because the latter approach is not representative of an in vivo steady state, we investigated antitumor activity of curcumin, 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), genistein, or indole-3-carbinol (I3C) in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells, exposed in long-term culture to low concentrations, achievable in vivo. Curcumin and EGCG increased cell doubling time.

Principles for learning horizontal-planar arm movements with reversal.

Purpose: This study tested the hypothesis that muscle and interaction torques can be altered independently in order to improve in specific kinematics performance observed following practice. We also tested the hypothesis that a simple set of rules of EMG-control and kinetic-control models could explain the EMG and kinetic changes due to practice of movements with reversal.

Scope: Kinematics of the upper arm with reversal, performed over three distances, was reconstructed using motion analysis.

Analysis of Schistosoma mansoni genes shared with Deuterostomia and with possible roles in host interactions.

Background: Schistosoma mansoni is a blood helminth parasite that causes schistosomiasis, a disease that affects 200 million people in the world. Many orthologs of known mammalian genes have been discovered in this parasite and evidence is accumulating that some of these genes encode proteins linked to signaling pathways in the parasite that appear to be involved with growth or development, suggesting a complex co-evolutionary process.

Results: In this work we found 427 genes conserved in the Deuterostomia group that have orthologs in S.

Active white enamel lesion: a case-control study.

Purpose: To assess the risk factors involved for active white enamel lesion in public schoolchildren, aged 7 to 12 years, in Natal, Brazil, using a case-control study.

Materials And Methods: A total of 273 cases of active white enamel lesion and 325 controls (lesion-free) were matched by age, gender and school. The independent variables were: age; gender; visible plaque index (VPI); gingival bleeding index (GBI); decayed, missing and filled surfaces (DMFS); decayed, extracted or filled surfaces (dmfs); DMFS-dmfs; and the number of carious surfaces.

Analysis of human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus infection and aberrant death-associated protein kinase methylation in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions.

This study was conducted to investigate the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) and the promoter methylation status of the death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) gene in high-grade intraepithelial lesions. Viral infection was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and promoter methylation status was evaluated using chemical modification by sodium bisulfite followed by PCR. A total of 24 samples were studied.

Microbiological characterization of randomly selected Portuguese raw milk cheeses with reference to food safety.

Seventy raw milk cheeses made in different regions of Portugal, both hard and soft varieties, made with cow's, ewe's, or goat's milk or combinations of these, were sampled within their quoted shelf lives for microbiological safety. On the basis of the presence or numbers of Escherichia coli, E. coli O157, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes, cheeses were categorized as satisfactory, acceptable, unsatisfactory, or unacceptable and potentially hazardous.

Characterization of solid-phase extraction of Fe(III) by unloaded polyurethane foam as thiocyanate complex.

This work presents a detailed study about the adsorption of iron(III)-thiocyanate complexes onto unloaded polyether-type polyurethane foam (PUF). A novel strategy was employed for this purpose, utilizing the adjustment of the plug cylinder of PUF to the arm of an overhead stirrer. The system was characterized in relation to equilibrium and kinetic aspects and it was modeled by applying Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms.

Central venous catheter-associated fungemia due to Rhodotorula spp. --a systematic review.

Rhodotorula spp. are emergent opportunistic pathogens, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. They have been associated with endocarditis, peritonitis, meningitis endophthalmitis and catheter-associated fungemia.

The usefulness of adenosine deaminase in the diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity usefulness in the diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis (TP), comparing its value with pericardial effusions (PE) caused by other pericardial diseases. A retrospective case-control study was conducted with nine cases of TP and 39 other than TP diseases (12 neoplastic, 11 septic and 16 unknown origin). Every patient included in this study had PE samples submitted to ADA activity measures and microbiological analysis, and then had pericardial tissue samples submitted to microbiological and histopathological examination.

[Effects of aqueous extracts of Mentha piperita L. and Chenopodium ambrosioides L. leaves in infective larvae cultures of gastrointestinal nematodes of goats].

Phitotherapy has been frequently utilized in parasitism control for numerous animal species. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the in vitro effects of aqueous extracts of Mentha piperita L. and Chenopodium ambrosioides L.

[Measurement of intra-abdominal pressure in the intensive care unit: the opinion of the critical care physicians].

Background And Objectives: The adverse effects of intra-abdominal hypertension are known for many years. Only recently proper attention has been given to routine intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) monitoring. There is evidence that a quarter of intensive care units (ICU) do not measure IAP, due to a lack of knowledge of its importance or difficulty in results interpretation.

Use of a 44k oligoarray to explore the transcriptome of Schistosoma mansoni adult worms.

Recent advances in the study of Schistosoma mansoni genome and transcriptome have led to a better description of the S. mansoni gene complement. In this work, we report the design and use of a new S.

Assessing obesity and other related health problems of mentally ill Hispanic patients in an urban outpatient setting.

Objective: This paper describes the role of an agency Clinical Director in developing a project to assess and begin to address obesity-related health problems of patients treated in a community-based mental health clinic in New York City. After a five year review of outpatient deaths revealed a high rate of deaths from cardiovascular and diabetes-related issues, the Clinical Director assembled a group of clinicians, researchers, and administrative staff to design a pilot project to assess health and nutrition status of primarily Hispanic day treatment patients with severe and persistent mental illness.

Method: About 69 of the 105 patients at the clinic were assessed by chart review, interview about nutritional habits and medical care, and somatic measurements for blood pressure, weight, girth, body mass index (BMI), glucose and lipid levels.

Investigation of the role of extracellular H2O2 and transition metal ions in the genotoxic action of ascorbic acid in cell culture models.

In the presence of oxygen, ascorbic acid (AA) is unstable in aqueous media and oxidises to dehydroascorbate (DHA), generating reactive intermediates such as ascorbate free radical and H2O2. It is proposed that the cytotoxicity of AA is due to the extracellular production of H2O2 and that this is mediated by transition metal ions present in cell media. Here we investigate the role of extracellular H2O2 and metal ions in the genotoxicity of AA in cell culture models.

Decorin and chondroitin sulfate distribution in vulvar lichen sclerosus: correlation with distinct histopathologic stages.

Objective: To characterize decorin and chondroitin sulfate (CS) expression in lichen sclerosus (LS).

Study Design: Thirty-one untreated vulvar LS lesions were biopsed, and hematoxylin-eosin-stained cases were graded according to Hewitt's classification. Immunohistochemistry was performed using antibodies directed against human decorin diluted 1:500 and CS diluted 1:200.

Extraosseous vulvar chondroma: a case report.

Background: Extraosseous chondromas are cartilaginous tissue tumors with a nodular appearance on the hands and feet. There are reports of these tumors occurring on the knee, neck, back, liver and testis and in the oral cavity. Occurrence in the pelvis is generally rare.

Percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy and neurovascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve for the treatment of facial pain.

Objective: To determine the outcomes of 354 radiofrequency rhizotomies and 21 neurovascular decompressions performed as treatment for 367 facial pain patients (290 idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, 52 symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia, 16 atypical facial pain, 9 post-herpetic neuralgia).

Method: Clinical findings and surgery success rate were considered for evaluation. A scale of success rate was determined to classify patients, which considered pain relief and functional/sensorial deficits.

The Star STING server: a multiplatform environment for protein structure analysis.

Star STING is the latest version of the STING suite of programs and corresponding database. We report on five important aspects of this package that have acquired some new characteristics, designed to add key advantages to the whole suite: 1) availability for most popular platforms and browsers, 2) introduction of the STING_DB quality assessment, 3) improvement in algorithms for calculation of three STING parameters, 4) introduction of five new STING modules, and 5) expansion of the existing modules. Star STING is freely accessible at: http://sms.

Listeria monocytogenes peritonitis in cirrhotic patients: first description in Brazil.

Two cases of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) caused by Listeria monocytogenes in cirrhotic patients are reported. In one of the cases, the microorganism was isolated from pleural effusion and ascites. SBP is a serious and common complication of patients with ascites caused by hepatic cirrhosis and the culture of the ascitic fluid is an important tool for the diagnosis and for the more appropriate treatment.

Listeriosis in Portugal: an existing but under reported infection.

Background: Listeriosis is a rare disease caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, the normal vehicle of which is food. The disease, which is largely confined to its risk groups of pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals, has increased in incidence in recent years. In Portugal, listeriosis is not a notifiable infection and available data are scarce.

Kinematic, kinetic and EMG patterns during downward squatting.

The aim of this study was to investigate the kinematic, kinetic, and electromyographic pattern before, during and after downward squatting when the trunk movement is restricted in the sagittal plane. Eight healthy subjects performed downward squatting at two different positions, semisquatting (40 degrees knee flexion) and half squatting (70 degrees knee flexion). Electromyographic responses of the vastus medialis oblique, vastus medialis longus, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, semitendineous, gastrocnemius lateralis, and tibialis anterior were recorded.

Radiation-induced transgenerational alterations in genome stability and DNA damage.

Mutation induction in directly exposed cells is currently regarded as the main component of the genetic risk of ionizing radiation for humans. However, recent data on the transgenerational increases in mutation rates in the offspring of irradiated parents indicate that the genetic risk could be greater than predicted previously. Here, we have analysed transgenerational changes in mutation rates and DNA damage in the germline and somatic tissues of non-exposed first-generation offspring of irradiated inbred male CBA/Ca and BALB/c mice.